A quick guide to Hillside

Kidstreet

As all of you music festival regulars know, the biggest challenge posed by these events is often simply choosing what artists to see when so many are performing at the same time. This weekend’s edition of Guelph’s Hillside Festival again boasts a stellar line-up from top to bottom, but here are a few of my can’t-miss-picks that might help formulate your plan of attack.

Friday

Harlan Pepper (8 p.m. Lake Stage) – These Hamilton alt-country upstarts already had a pedigree when they formed: bassist/vocalist Thompson Wilson’s father is Tom Wilson of Blackie & The Rodeo Kings. But their ’10 debut album, Young & Old, proved they’ve absorbed a lot of musical history in a short span. Fans of both The Band and Wilco won’t be disappointed.

Kidstreet (7 p.m. Island Stage) – K-Dub is well represented this year by the Snyder siblings, who continue to draw critical raves for their quirky electro-pop. You probably have already heard their latest single, Song, used in a TV ad for Ford, but this Hillside debut will be the best opportunity to hear what made the execs at Nettwerk Records sign them.

Saturday

Doug Paisley (2:25 p.m. Main Stage) – Up until very recently, this Toronto artist has been better known in the U.S. and U.K. where his first two independently released albums have been unanimously acclaimed as Americana gems. But Canada is finally catching up now that Paisley’s latest effort, Constant Companion, has been licensed by the Maplemusic label. Check out for yourself someone who could be the next heir to Canada’s great singer/songwriter tradition.

Hooded Fang (8 p.m. Island Stage) – There might not be a band better suited for a summer festival than this Toronto six-piece. Their infectious three-minute synth-pop anthems have made them CBC Radio favourites, and even the most jaded rocker will be swayed by front man Daniel Lee’s whimsical musical vision.

Lost In The Trees (8 p.m. Lake Stage) — This ambitious collective from North Carolina has been blowing minds across North America for three years now. Led by composer Ari Picker, the group’s most recent album, All Alone In An Empty House, is an emotional blend of folk and orchestral elements, and was recently reissued by Anti- Records (Tom Waits, Nick Cave).

Sunday

Braids (7 p.m. Island Stage) – They have been called Canada’s answer to Animal Collective, but it seems that the Montreal-via-Calgary group is only beginning to harness the bold experimentation of its debut album, Native Speaker. Expect to feel waves of euphoria soon after they hit the stage.

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 (9 p.m. Main Stage) – Taking over from his late father, African musical icon Fela Kuti, Seun Kuti has found his rightful place as leader of arguably the world’s funkiest band. He recently staked his claim with the Brian Eno-produced From Africa With Fury: Rise; the album’s title pretty much says it all.

Shad (8 p.m. Island Stage) – After pulling off the biggest upset win at this year’s Juno Awards by snatching Best Rap Recording from host Drake, expect hometown hero Shad’s set to be a massive love-in. Whether you’re into hip-hop or not, Shad’s combination of smarts, soul, and social conscience is everything the genre’s founding fathers could have hoped it would one day become.